Identifying Areas of Competence Needed by Educational Interpreters

We developed a survey instrument for determining the competence educational interpreters are perceived to need in three areas:

skill, knowledge, and attitude by asking 71 respondents from three groups to rate 25 statements beginning, “Educational interpreters need...” The groups: interpreters in the Alabama Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, students completing a year-long preparation program for educational interpreting, and classroom teachers using the service of an interpreter. Responses from the three groups compared showed differences, particularly regarding competence in the skill category.